FISH DINNER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1824, 4 December 1888, Page 2

FISH DINNER.

The fish dinner held under the auspices of the Geraldine County Angling Society came off last Saturday evening in tbs Wallingford Hotel, Sixteen gentlemen sat down to an excellent repast prepared in that highly satisfactory style for which Mr Colra is so well known. The fish were served up in every possible way, and the other viands by which they were supplemented were all that the most exacting epicure could desire. Mr W, Deßenzy, the Vice-Presi-dent of the Society, occupied the chair, and the vice-chair was filled by Mr K, F. Gray. After the cloth was removed a letter of apology for non-attendance was read from Mr A. M. Clark; also a letter from Mr A. E. 6. Rhodes, M.H.R., slating that he would give £lO worth of a cup for anglers to compete for. (Applause.)

The toast of “ The Queen ” having boon disposed of, Mr Flint proposed "The Gentle Art,” coupled with the name of Mr K. F. Gray. The toast woe Id appeal to them all, for there was no truer sport. There was no better district in New Zealand for angling than Temuka, and he hoped soon that they would see their rivers filled with the lordly salmon, Mr Clinch, song, “ Oh, Fred 1 tell them to stop.” Mr Gray said, though it was said he was the oldest angler in the room, there ware others who bad fished as long as he had. He had certainty been a fisherman from his earliest youth. When he herded cows on (he banks of the Don, and had no lies, he used to pull ( some of the threads out of his Kilmarnock bonnet and fish with them, (Laughter.) There was a kindred feeling amongst fishermen, and some of the happiest hoars of hie life bad been spent in angling. Temnka was not to be surpassed for angling. They had beautiful treams stocked with treut. He was amongst the first to assist in stocking these rivers. A certain gentle- V man came into his office one day, collared P the cash box, and took £3, and said be must have it. He (Mr Gray) asked "For what I” and he was to “To buy fish.”’ He told the gentleman to go to Mr Mendelson, and if he gave £6 he (Mr Gray) would be satisfied to give the £3.. Mr Mendelson gave £5, and that was th& beginning of it. He never spent £3 he regretted less, He thanked them for coupling his name with the toast. Dr Hayes proposed the toast of “ The' * Winners in the Angling Competition. He had no doubt the cup given by Mr Rhodes would give an impetus to these

Competitions, and that in future they would become more popular. He coupled with the toast the names of . Messrs Aspinall, Nicholas, Gray, and Young.

Mr Flint, song. Major Young replied on behalf or ms ion, and said he was glad he was successful in the competition. Fly fishing was the sport,and his son was the youngest fisherman amongst them. He was glad he bad caught the largest number, and the heaviest basket in the competition. He wished to correct oiiu mistake made hv Mr Gray. The first fish were put in by hlr Inwood and himself m 1873, when they gave £5 per 100 for them. Ihe Winchester stream was the belt breeding place in Canterbury for J® b ’“ nd J be place,for fly fishing. He thanked them on bebnlf of bis sod. .... ~ Mr Nicholas endorsed all Major Young had said, and expressed a hope that Mr Young, ianr,. would win again. Mr Aspinall was gl«d that he had won. He thought more ought to have competed out of 80 or 100 anglers they hud in the district, but he hoped that the cup given by Mr Rhodes would induce people to thanked them for the way they had drunk bis health. He had now taken three prizes, and each prize had been taken with one fish. _ Some people objected to competitions in angling, but no true sportsman would resort to any foul means of catching the fish. He had fished on the Bnlmer Estate, the property «f bis friend Mr Badham, and there would soon be an enormous quantity of fash “The Railway Porter," Mr A,1 Mr Gaze proposed the toast of “Riparian Owners,” coupled w,tb tbe names of Messrs Deßenzy, Grant, Badham and Young. It was fortunate for tbsin they were living m a district where the owners of rivers were so willing to throw their waters open to anglers, it was a matter for surprise that greater advantage bad not been t*keo of it, but he had no doubt people would do so in the cocrse of lime. Duet, “ The Bold Gendarmes, . Messrs Aspinall and Ashwell. ~,. Mr Deßenzy thanked them, and sam his rivers would always be open to legidmate sportsmen. Members of the Angling Society had always leave to go, but other anglers would have to ask his leave. He felt certain that in addition to Mr Rhodes a prize his landlord, the Hon. Mr Lyttelton, would also give a prize. Mr Badham said he was a little out of his place, becanse he had given up cockatooing for newspaper wort The reason he had given up cockatooing was because it waa too honest fer him, and be h*d Bot full scope for hie talents there. (Laughter.) With regard to hie waters, Mr Gray said be bad seen fish there, but he (Mr Badham) did not. Mr Badham continued a most amusing speech, which created a great deal of amusement. Mesare Young and Grant also acknowledged the compliment, Mr Aspinall proposed the health ot “The Judges,” coupled with the name of Mr Deßenzy, . , . Mr Deßenzy aaid it was a pleasure to judge such splendid fish. Ha would suggest that in future they should not let the judges know the names of the comin ness (of Napier) proposed the toast of “ The Angling Society.” This was hie second visit to Temuka, and it added greatly to its pleasure to be present that evening. There was no district in New Zealand that could compare with Temuka for angling. On? thing connected with angling was that it taught men to look philosophically on adversity. He coupled the tonal with the name of Mr Flint.

Sonm Mr Henry. Mr Flint thanked them for the wa.y in which the toast had been received. The Angling Society had nearly double its members, and be had no doubt but the prizes offered by Messrs Rhodes and Lyttelton would impiove its position. Mr Gray proposed “ The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests,” coupled with the names of Messrs Deßeoay, Grant, Badham, Hayes, and Aspinall. The toast was duly acknowledged by the gentlemen named, Seng, Mr Aspinall. Mr Henry proposed “ Local Interests and Local Bodies,” coupled with the names of Messrs Gray and Ashwe'l, who replied in suitable terms. 1 The toasts of “ The Host, The Ladies,” “ The Press,” and “ The Chauman.* 1 were also druuk, and tbe affair wound up with “ Aeld Lang Sine."